Dawn Comes
The file dropped on Bernard's desk with a clap. A blue hologram of the Alliance Starbird flickered to life above it and began turning slowly. Bernard read the case name.
"I want you to look into the Bastra case," Pech said. He stood next to Bernard, leaning over the desk. The Alliance Marshal tapped in the file's lock code.
"Why me?"
"There's a peculiarity regarding this case which places you in the unique position of being this department's best-suited expert for the investigation."
Bernard glanced up at him, eyes narrowed.
"I'm not trained for Senatorial affairs, that's-"
"Not what I meant, you'll see," Pech cut him off. He cycled through the case file, tapping abruptly to halt the scrolling. "Here.
Ido Bastra
, formerly a member of the Corporatist Party. Multi-trillionaire. Used to be a major entrepreneur in his younger years, but retired to take a step into politics. Found dead in his personal residence here on Coruscant with no signs of forced entry and no one on the security team dead or missing. We have no idea who or what did this and why."
"There are bound to be countless motives. His speeches in the Senate, he didn't make himself popular throwing his weight behind the Senator of Kuat. He would have plenty of enemies on the list from that manoeuvre alone."
"There's a reason you're on this one, I can't say more. Get your gear, you're scheduled to be at his mansion in one cycle to get acquainted with your team."
"Now? I still have- wait, Team? What team? Isn't Sarn-"
"Less talking, more doing. You have your assignment, get to work," Pech put his hand on Bernard's shoulder. "I'm counting on you for this one."
Pech made his way back to his office, leaving Bernard to study the case file as best he could in a cycle.
Bastra's residence was cordoned off with barriers. The entrance to the skycutter was guarded by a few Marshals, while several more regularly patrolled the perimeter. They were more heavily armed than usual and had a squadron of CSF's latest droids backing them up. Bernard figured the CSF presence didn't sit well with the assigned Marshals. The rivalry between the two groups had grown considerably over the last months, but that seemed to be the case with most planetary policing agencies and the Marshals. The GA's finest took a lot of pride in their work.
One of the Marshals stopped Bernard as he approached the main entrance, and requested his ID. While Bernard fished for the card inside his jacket, the Rodian bit her tongue to not comment on his appearance. In accordance with Pech's wishes, Bernard studied the file deep into the night, making the most of the cycle he was given. The dark circles under his eyes were pronounced, his hair was less orderly than it usually was, and he held a half-finished stimcaf, while keeping a dark blue satchel stenciled with the starbird in subtle white tucked under the other arm.
Late-night shifts were a well-known curse in their line of work. There was a measure of mutual understanding when he handed her the wrong card at first. He was waved through eventually, into the reception hall.
The entire building had belonged to Bastra. It had been reserved for only himself and his staff, but since his death, it stood empty. The only visitors now were forensics teams, and the security chief insisted they only work under strict supervision by himself. Still, the man had appeared cooperative enough with the Marshal's investigation, from what Bernard had read. There hadn't been any intrusions into forensic's work, and the only objections the chief had made were regarding the treatment of the deceased's personal effects. It seemed unlikely that he was trying to hide anything, but only a conversation or two could rule him out as a potential accomplice.
Bernard kept his ID ready as he stepped past the double doors, expecting a barrage of questions from the sec chief, but was met with silence instead. The lobby was empty and unlit. No sign of the chief, or the rest of his team.
He took a sip of the stimcaf.
"Huh."
"I want you to look into the Bastra case," Pech said. He stood next to Bernard, leaning over the desk. The Alliance Marshal tapped in the file's lock code.
"Why me?"
"There's a peculiarity regarding this case which places you in the unique position of being this department's best-suited expert for the investigation."
Bernard glanced up at him, eyes narrowed.
"I'm not trained for Senatorial affairs, that's-"
"Not what I meant, you'll see," Pech cut him off. He cycled through the case file, tapping abruptly to halt the scrolling. "Here.
Ido Bastra
, formerly a member of the Corporatist Party. Multi-trillionaire. Used to be a major entrepreneur in his younger years, but retired to take a step into politics. Found dead in his personal residence here on Coruscant with no signs of forced entry and no one on the security team dead or missing. We have no idea who or what did this and why.""There are bound to be countless motives. His speeches in the Senate, he didn't make himself popular throwing his weight behind the Senator of Kuat. He would have plenty of enemies on the list from that manoeuvre alone."
"There's a reason you're on this one, I can't say more. Get your gear, you're scheduled to be at his mansion in one cycle to get acquainted with your team."
"Now? I still have- wait, Team? What team? Isn't Sarn-"
"Less talking, more doing. You have your assignment, get to work," Pech put his hand on Bernard's shoulder. "I'm counting on you for this one."
Pech made his way back to his office, leaving Bernard to study the case file as best he could in a cycle.
Bastra's residence was cordoned off with barriers. The entrance to the skycutter was guarded by a few Marshals, while several more regularly patrolled the perimeter. They were more heavily armed than usual and had a squadron of CSF's latest droids backing them up. Bernard figured the CSF presence didn't sit well with the assigned Marshals. The rivalry between the two groups had grown considerably over the last months, but that seemed to be the case with most planetary policing agencies and the Marshals. The GA's finest took a lot of pride in their work.
One of the Marshals stopped Bernard as he approached the main entrance, and requested his ID. While Bernard fished for the card inside his jacket, the Rodian bit her tongue to not comment on his appearance. In accordance with Pech's wishes, Bernard studied the file deep into the night, making the most of the cycle he was given. The dark circles under his eyes were pronounced, his hair was less orderly than it usually was, and he held a half-finished stimcaf, while keeping a dark blue satchel stenciled with the starbird in subtle white tucked under the other arm.
Late-night shifts were a well-known curse in their line of work. There was a measure of mutual understanding when he handed her the wrong card at first. He was waved through eventually, into the reception hall.
The entire building had belonged to Bastra. It had been reserved for only himself and his staff, but since his death, it stood empty. The only visitors now were forensics teams, and the security chief insisted they only work under strict supervision by himself. Still, the man had appeared cooperative enough with the Marshal's investigation, from what Bernard had read. There hadn't been any intrusions into forensic's work, and the only objections the chief had made were regarding the treatment of the deceased's personal effects. It seemed unlikely that he was trying to hide anything, but only a conversation or two could rule him out as a potential accomplice.
Bernard kept his ID ready as he stepped past the double doors, expecting a barrage of questions from the sec chief, but was met with silence instead. The lobby was empty and unlit. No sign of the chief, or the rest of his team.
He took a sip of the stimcaf.
"Huh."
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